IFR press release

International Symposium on Robotics ISR 2012

Review of event

There were 180 experts and researchers from 21 countries came all the way to Taiwan to participate the 43rd International Symposium on Robotics during August 29-31. Worldwide experts and researchers presented novel works and shared ideas in the field of robotics at ISR 2012.

Further increase of worldwide industrial robot sales in 2012 by nine percent

"The success story of industrial robots is continuing in 2012 and beyond" , said Dr. Shinsuke Sakakibara, IFR President, on the occasion of the publication of the study "World Robotics 2012 - Industrial Robots", on Thursday in Taipei. "Despite the weakening global economic situation a further robot sales increase of about nine percent to about 181,000 units is likely in 2012. The IFR Statistical Department expects that between 2013 and 2015 worldwide robot sales will increase by about 5% on average per year. In 2015, the annual supply of industrial robots will reach more than 200,000 units."

About 16,400 service robots for professional use were sold in 2011, 9% more than in 2010, reports the IFR Statistical Department in the new study "World Robotics 2012 - Service Robots", which was published on Thursday in Taipei. The sales value increased by 6% to US$ 3.6 billion.

In 2011 we were able to look back on 50 years of Industrial Robots. This anniversary was a reason for IFR to reflect on the history of this successful "co-worker". IFR created a brochure containing the milestones of technology and commercialization.

The 43rd International Symposium on Robotics (ISR), the world's most prestigious annual robotics conference, takes place during the Taipei International Robot Show (TIROS) 2012 Show and Conference in Taipei, Taiwan, August 29-31, 2012. The conference theme is "Intelligent Human-Robot Interaction"

At our press conference at AUTOMATICA, we could report on 2011 - the year of the 50th anniversary of the industrial robots and by far the most successful year of industrial robots. The forecast for 2012 and beyond is promising. The international press showed keen interest on the 3rd IFR CEO Round Table on the topic: "Breakthrough with Industrial Robots".

Keen interest of press and media in the 3rd IFR CEO Round Table at the AUTOMATICA 2012

Journalists from all over the world didn't miss the opportunity to get the most current data of the world market of industrial robots, to listen to the discussion of CEO's of major industrial robot companies on the breakthrough with industrial robots and to interview the top robot experts.

The 8th annual Invention and Entrepreneurship Award in Robotics and Automation (IERA) was presented to Gino De-Gol, Robocoaster Ltd. and Esben H. Østergaard, Universal Robots during the IERA Networking Dinner at the AUTOMATICA in Munich.

"2011 was the most successful year for industrial robots in 50 years. Since the first installation in 1961 more than 2.3 million were sold all over the world!" stated Dr. Shinsuke Sakakibara, IFR President, on Wednesday, 23 May 2012 at the AUTOMATICA in Munich. "And the robotics industry is looking forward to a bright future."